S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
5110
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
February 23, 2023
___________
Introduced by Sen. OBERACKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Local Government
AN ACT to amend the real property tax law, in relation to extending the
benefits of the STAR program to small businesses
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 425 of the real property tax law,
as added by section 1 of part B of chapter 389 of the laws of 1997,
paragraph (a) as amended by chapter 264 of the laws of 2000, paragraph
(b-1) as amended by section 1 of part RR of chapter 59 of the laws of
2019, paragraph (d) as amended by chapter 564 of the laws of 2015 and
paragraph (e) as added by section 2 of part W of chapter 57 of the laws
of 2008, is amended and a new paragraph (f) is added to read as follows:
3. Eligibility requirements. (a) Property use. To qualify for
exemption pursuant to this section, the property must be a one, two or
three family residence, a farm dwelling, SMALL BUSINESS or residential
property held in condominium or cooperative form of ownership. If the
property is not an eligible type of property, but a portion of the prop-
erty is partially used by the owner as a primary residence, that portion
which is so used shall be entitled to the exemption provided by this
section; provided that in no event shall the exemption exceed the
assessed value attributable to that portion.
(b) Primary residence. The property must serve as the primary resi-
dence of one or more of the owners thereof, UNLESS SUCH PROPERTY IS
OWNED BY A SMALL BUSINESS AS DEFINED IN PARAGRAPH (F) OF THIS SUBDIVI-
SION.
(b-1) Income. For final assessment rolls to be used for the levy of
taxes for the two thousand eleven-two thousand twelve through two thou-
sand eighteen-two thousand nineteen school years, the parcel's affil-
iated income may be no greater than five hundred thousand dollars, as
determined by the commissioner pursuant to subdivision fourteen of this
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09162-01-3
S. 5110 2
section or section one hundred seventy-one-u of the tax law, in order to
be eligible for the basic exemption authorized by this section. Begin-
ning with the two thousand nineteen-two thousand twenty school year, for
purposes of the exemption authorized by this section, the parcel's
affiliated income may be no greater than two hundred fifty thousand
dollars, as so determined. As used herein, the term "affiliated income"
shall mean the combined income of all of the owners of the parcel who
resided primarily thereon on the applicable taxable status date, and of
any owners' spouses residing primarily thereon. For exemptions on final
assessment rolls to be used for the levy of taxes for the two thousand
eleven-two thousand twelve school year, affiliated income shall be
determined based upon the parties' incomes for the income tax year
ending in two thousand nine. In each subsequent school year, the appli-
cable income tax year shall be advanced by one year. The term "income"
as used herein shall have the same meaning as in subdivision four of
this section.
(c) Trusts. If legal title to the property is held by one or more
trustees, the beneficial owner or owners shall be deemed to own the
property for purposes of this subdivision.
(d) Farm dwellings not owned by the resident. (i) If legal title to
the farm dwelling is held by an S-corporation or by a C-corporation, the
exemption shall be granted if the property serves as the primary resi-
dence of a shareholder of such corporation.
(ii) If the legal title to the farm dwelling is held by a partnership,
the exemption shall be granted if the property serves as the primary
residence of one or more of the partners.
(iii) If the legal title to the farm dwelling is held by a limited
liability company, the exemption shall be granted if the property serves
as the primary residence of one or more of the owners.
(iv) Any information deemed necessary to establish shareholder, part-
ner or owner status for eligibility purposes shall be considered confi-
dential and exempt from the freedom of information law.
(e) Dwellings owned by limited partnerships. (i) If legal title to a
dwelling is held by a limited partnership, the exemption shall be grant-
ed if the property serves as the primary residence of one or more of the
partners, provided that the limited partnership which holds title to the
property does not engage in any commercial activity, that the limited
partnership was lawfully created to hold title solely for estate plan-
ning and asset protection purposes, and that the partner or partners who
primarily reside thereon personally pay all of the real property taxes
and other costs associated with the property's ownership.
(ii) Any information deemed necessary to establish partner status for
eligibility purposes shall be considered confidential and exempt from
the freedom of information law.
(F) FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SUBDIVISION, THE TERM "SMALL BUSINESS"
SHALL MEAN A BUSINESS WHICH EMPLOYS ONE HUNDRED PERSONS OR LESS.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to all
taxable years beginning on and after January 1, 2023.